Review by New York Times Review
Ever since his classic first novel, "A Fine and Private Place," Beagle has displayed a talent not just for writing fantasy but for documenting the frailties and bittersweet qualities of human relationships. Fifty years later, Beagle's new story collection, "Sleight of Hand," provides ample evidence that his powers of observation are still sharp. Highlights include the deeply felt ghost story "The Rabbi's Hobby," in which the supernatural element is secondary to the titular rabbi and his odd collection of stray keys. In "The Best Worst Monster," Beagle delightfully imagines a creature made of "power tools and old television sets" - the story is reminiscent of the work of a friendlier Steven Millhauser. Wizards and magicians appear frequently in such tales as "Sleight of Hand," "The Woman Who Married the Man in the Moon" and "What Tune the Enchantress Plays," all of which allow Beagle to showcase his effortless storytelling. Even weaker entries, like the retold fairy tale "Up the Down Beanstalk," contain scenes that are wise, warm and deep.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [June 5, 2011]
Review by Booklist Review
One of the more well-known authors in the fantasy genre, this author chose in this new collection of stories to highlight some of his favorites. There are brief introductions from him providing background for each story and why it was chosen. Up the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remember. tells the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk from the perspective of the giant's widow. A delightful twist on a common childhood story is related to a local Troll newspaper. Dira. starts out with flashes of consciousness, seemingly random words, and gathers into an incredible tale about a very unconventional superhero who only exists because of the significant brain trauma suffered by an otherwise unremarkable woman. There are also tales of centaurs, dragons, and werewolves. Common as these creatures are in fantasy literature, Beagle manages to write stories about them that seem to be told from Alice's Wonderland. He brings the fantastic into our everyday world and makes it real.--Gerber, Rebecc. Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This bittersweet collection of 13 recent stories pays tribute to the complicated power of family ties. "Sleight of Hand" lauds the good magic of parental love, while "What Tune the Enchantress Plays" shows its dark side. "Children of the Shark God" addresses children's influence on parents, and in "La Lune T'Attend" a grandfather protects his descendants from the family's longtime enemy. Slighter but still entertaining are "Up the Down Beanstalk," the nostalgia-heavy "The Rabbi's Hobby" (Brighton Beach Memoirs with magic), and "Oakland Dragon Blues," whose title character deserves better than his pat ending. The surprise hit of the collection is "The Bridge Partner," psychological horror in the best Twilight Zone tradition. Fans of The Last Unicorn will also appreciate "The Woman Who Married the Man in the Moon," a Schmendrick prequel in classic bittersweet Beagle style. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Multiple Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Beagle opens readers' eyes to wonder with his latest collection of 13 short stories. Each piece bridges the rich intersection of fantasy and fairy tale, reality and possibility, exploring predestination, fate, and the power of love through characters that come to vivid, three-dimensional life within a few short pages. Beagle's lyrical writing is set in a wide range of landscapes both familiar and fresh, with twists on Jack and the Beanstalk, monsters and dragons, a singing enchantress, ghostly photographs, and a modern werewolf tale. "The Bridge Partner" is more noir than fantasy yet fits within the collection quite well, as does the deeply chilling, experimental, and dark "Dirae." "The Woman Who Married the Man in the Moon" features two lost children and an encounter with an early version of Schmendrick the Magician from his classic novel, The Last Unicorn. Each story is introduced with some background about its origin. Verdict Short story and fantasy lovers will devour these tasty tidbits that whet the appetite for more.-Charli Osborne, Oxford P.L., MI (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
